Equal Access

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Situation
Equal access means that religious groups should have the same access to facilities and funding that all other groups enjoy.   The foundation for the principle of equal access is found in the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Equal Access Act passed by Congress in 1984.  Unfortunately, in too many cases, public officials, operating under a false understanding of the so-called “separation of church and state,” block religious groups from exercising this First Amendment right.

Context
ADF has fought for, and reclaimed, this right before the United States Supreme Court.  Because of ADF litigated and funded legal precedents, religious groups now have more access to public facilities and funding than ever before.

It is imperative that we continue to fight for the rights of Christians to live out their religious convictions without fear of government persecution.

Opposition
ACLU – “The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed regret over a Supreme Court decision permitting religious clubs to provide instruction to elementary school children on school grounds.” (http://www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?ID=7311&c=139)

People for the American Way – “Religious Right political groups are more engaged than ever in an assault on public education in America.” (http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=12072)

Freedom from Religion Foundation – “The religious right is campaigning to raid the public till and advance religion at taxpayer expense, attacking our secular public schools, the rights of nonbelievers, and the Establishment Clause.” (http://www.ffrf.org/purposes/)

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State – “What is disturbing about Good News is that it is the first Supreme Court decision to apply this line of cases in the context of elementary school students.” (http://www.au.org/site/DocServer/Good_News.pdf?docID=184)
 read about the Good News case here.  (id=2837)

Allies
Christian Legal Society – “…if a school allows its facilities to be used by secular community groups, it must permit religious groups to use them on equal terms.” (http://www.clsnet.org/clrfPages/pubs/eqAc_Elementary.php) 

See more ADF Allies.

Related information

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Read "The Truth About Equal Access" (.pdf) (order this pamphlet)